Vending machine



Nov. 27,1928. W 1,693,051

H. RICHARDSON ET AL 'VEINDING mourns Filed June 25, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheetl Nov, 27, 1928. 1,693,051

M. H. RICHARDSON ET AL VENDING MACHINE FiledJune 25, 1924 a Sheets-Sheet2 Nov. 27, 1928. 1,693,051

M. H. RICHARDSON ET AL VENDING MACHINE Filed June 23, 1924 3Sheets-Sheet 5 Jwentord @rmfiflizlckardaow I 5 5 o v Patented Nov. 2'1928.

UNITED STATES MY BJON 'H.RICHARDSON AND D. ANTOINE, OF CHICAGO,ILIJNOIS, ASSIGNOBS TO ADVANCE MACHINE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ACORPORATION OF.

ILLINOIS.

Application filed June 23,

' the same time the check will be held against being deposited in themachine and will be returned to the operator.

A further object is to provide improved means for preventing theoperation of the machine by means of a check or token of an im- -.properweight and also the operation of the machine by a check or token of animproper thickness.

A further object is to provide in a machine of this character improvedmeans for insuring the proper delivery of articles which are of a verythin construction. I

To. the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new anduseful obj ects as will appear, the invention consists inthe features ofnovelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangementof the several parts hereinafter more fully. described and claimed andshown in the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention and inwhich 1 Figure 1 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional view of amachine of this character constructed in accordance with the principlesof this invention with parts omitted therefrom for the sake ofclearness.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the ejecting mechanism. p

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the check controlled mechanism withparts omitted.

Figure 4= is a view in elevation of the check carrier showing the meansfor restraining an improper checkagainst delivery from the checkcarrier.

Figure 5 is a detail view of the ratchet disc operating dog and theretaining pawl for the disc, showing the parts in theirnormal positions.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4, showing the means for holdingacheck of improper weight against delivery from the check carrier. j

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view as taken "on line 7-7, Figure 6. v

Figure 8 is'a View partly in elevation and partly in. section of amodified form of the I vnnmnomama.

1924. Serial No. 721,661.

ejecting means, and showing the parts in the I position they will assumewhen the machine 1s empty.

' Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 showing the position the partswill assume when a thin article is being ejected. I

Fisgure 10 is a detail rear elevation of Figure Figure 11 is a detailview partly in elevation and partly insectionof the check receiv ingsupport and the co-Operating check controlled element as constructed toprevent the insertion and operation of the mechanism by two thin checks.

Figure 12 is a detail plan view of the controlling gate or. memberbetween the article containers or hoppers.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the numeral 15 designates acase or cabr inet having a delivery outlet 16 through which the articlesto be vended are delivered. The

cabinet 15 .is preferably provided with two holders 17 and 18 for thearticles and these holders are preferably in the form of guides orhoppers separated from each other but bottom 19 of the case- 15 and whenall of the articles have been delivered from the forward container theywill be supplied from the rear container. To that end there is provideda swinging gate or member 20 which is arranged beneath theopen end ofthe container 17. This gate or member 20 swings about a suitable pivot21 and is adapted to be moved so as to pass beneath the articles in thecontainer 17 and support them to prevent them from being delivered fromthe machine and into the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1,toprevent them from being delivered upon the operation of the ejectingmeans and when the forward containerholds articles to be delivered.After one article has been delivered the member 20 is moved from thedotted line position to the full line position so as to direct thearticles from the rear container to a position to be ejected.

The ejecting mechanism consists of an ejector proper 22 which isslidable upona' suitable support 23, the ejector being preferably sup-When the ejector 22 is moved in a direction to deliver the article, thearticle will be engaged by the ejector and will fall from the frame likestructure or port-ion 25 to be delivered through the outlet 16. Theframe like structure 25 alsoserves as a means for holding the articleupon the-support 23, especially when cylindrical or round articles aredelivered, as the walls of the frame like structure will prevent thearticle from rolling.

The member 20 is moved about its pivot through the medium of the ejector22 and to that end there may be provided spaced projections 26-27between which an arm 28, connected with the member 20 and standingadjacent one of the walls of the frame like member 25, passes, It willtherefore be seen that by a reciprocating movement of the ejector 22 themember 20 will be moved about its pivot, and having been raised to thedotted line position shown in Figure 1, the weight of the articles willbe overcome by reason of the arm 28 on the member20 engaging the stop 26when the plunger isxadvanced.

Any suitable means may be provided for reciprocating the plunger such asa pivotally mounted member'29, which is pivotally supported preferablyintermediate its ends by means of the pivots 30, and one end thereof isconnected with the ejector 22 in any desired or suitable mannerpreferably by means of the bifurcated extremities 31 of the member 29passing over projections 32 connected with the ejector 22, preferably tothe members 24, which in turn are connected with the ejector. The member29 is adapted to be moved about its pivot by means of a suitable camshaped device 33 which is adapted to be rotated in a manner to behereinafter described, and during its rotation the cam shaped portion 34thereof will successively engage lugs or projections 3536 carried by themember 29. When the cam 33 is rotated and assuming the parts to be inthe position shown in Figure 1, the cam surface'34 will engage theprojection 35 and will swing the member 29 about its pivot in onedirection to retract the ejector 22. When the cam surface 34 engages theprojection 36 it will move the member 29 in the opposite direction so asto actuate the ejector 22 to deliver the article, it being understoodthat the projections 35 and 36 are arranged on opposite sides of thepivot of the member 29.

The cam 33 is adapted to be actuated by check controlled mechanismpreferably of the type and construction as'is disclosed in United StatesPatent to Alfred D. Antoine,

Number 1,452,721, issued April 24, 1923, and

to be delivered from the check carrier upon a support 41. When the checkrests upon the support 41 it engages a locking or retaining element 42of the check'controlled' mechanism so that when the check carrier 37 isreversed in its direction of rotation, a portion of the wall of thecheck seat 38 will engage the edge of the check 40 to force the checkfrom the support 41 and against the element 42 to swing the latter aboutits pivot 43 against the stress of a spring 44, thereby moving theportion 45 of the element 42 into a position that it will be renderedinactive with respect to the ratchet disc 46 to release the latter andthereby permit of the further operation of the check carrier 37 and withit the 4 cam 33. The cam 33 is connected with the disc 46 in anysuitable manner such as by means of an angular projection 47 on the cam33, which is adapted to enter a correspondingly shaped recess 48 in thedisc 46. This portion of the check controlled mechanism, aside from thecam 33, constitutes no part of the present invention, as it is fullydisclosed in the patent heretofore referred to. It sometimes happensthat it is attempted to actuate the mechanism when the machine is emptand in that event the check deposited by the operator would be retainedin the machine at a loss to the operator.

In the present invention means are provided whereby the mechanism willbe automatically locked against operation after the machine has becomeempty and this is preferably accomplished through the medium of thearticles themselves. The check will then be returned. J

A simple and efiicient means for accomplishing this end includes amember 49 which is pivotally mounted as at 50 upon a suitable support.Connected with the member 49 preferably one end thereof, as at 51,remote the ejector 22 is retracted, the articles in their passage to thesupport 23, will fall upon the portion 53 of the member 52 and actuatethe latter to swing the member 49 about its pivot and against the stressof the spring 54. The member 49 is provided with a finger or extension55 which is adapted, in the normal position of the member 49, to assumea position adjacent the path of movementof the periphcry of the checkwhile the latter is being carried by the check carrier, or into theposition shown-in Figure 4. In this position it will be manifest thatwhen the check carrier is rotated or oscillated and when the check seat38 is in a position to discharge or deliver the check therefrom, thecheck will be held.

against such discharge by reason of the fact that it will be engaged bythe finger or p rojection 55 of the member 49. If, however, this fingeror projection 55 is retracted the check .40 will fall from. the'seat 38upon the support 41. The retraction of the finger or pro ection 55 iscontrolled, as before stated, by the articles in the container. It willtherefore be manifest that when the container contains one or morearticles to bedelivered, the

' weight of the article when it -passes to the support 23 upon theportion 53 ofthe member 52 will, as before stated, swing the member 49about its pivot against the stress of the spring 54 to retract themember 55.

When the container is empty, no weight will be applied-to the portion 53of the member 52, with the result that the finger or extension 55 willbe advanced or'p-rojected by the movement of the member 49 about itspivot 50 under'the influence of the spring 54. that the reciprocationthereof will not be interfered with by the portion 53 of the member 52.

The wall of the casing of the housing in which the check .carrier37 islocated may be provided with a suitable-aperture or opening 56 (seeFigures 1 and .3), through which the finger or extension 55" is adaptedto project.

It sometimes happens that it is attempted to actuate the mechanismthrough the medium of a check or token of an improper weight, eventhough the articles to be delivered are held within the container andthe finger or projection 55 is retracted. In order t-oprevent suchimproper check (such as a fibre or non-metallic disc) from beingdelivered into the mechanism so that the latter might be operatedthereby. a suitable detector is provided therefor and which, as shownmore clearly in Figures 6 and 7 consists of a spring like member 57preferably in the form of a leaf springanchoredas at 58 to a suitablesupport. The end of the spring 57 is shaped as at 59- and stands inclose proximity to the face of the check carrier 37. The-normal tendencyof the portion 59 of the spring 57 is to enter the check seat 38, fromthe side Obviously the ejector 22 is so shaped thereof, when the checkcarrier is rotated. The stress of the spring 57 is such that a propercheck or token will not be held against delivery from theseat '38 at theproper point in the'operation of "the check carrier, owing to the weightof the check or token, the stress of the spring 57 being such that itwillreadily yield under the proper weight of check.

.If, howeventhe check 60 is of an improper weight the portion 59 of thespring 59 will,

engage the lateral face of the check and hold the same against dischargefrom the seat 88 so. that when the check-carrier 37 is moved in theopposite direction the check 60 will be returned to the checkreceiving-opening 61 to be returned to the operator. The portion 59 ofthe spring 57 is so shaped that inthe event of the rotation of the checkcarrier 37 when no check is present in the seat 38, it will not .75 whenthe check 60 is moved adjacent thereto,

interfere with the rotation of the check car- .or bolt 62 the spring 57may be caused to exert a greater or less stress upon the check. 60. Ifdesired a lock nut or collar 64 may be provided for maintaining thescrcw or bolt 62 in its adjusted position.

It is'thought that the operation of this portion of the mechanism willbe clearly understood from the foregoing but briefly stated it is asfollows. When a check is inserted in the check receiving opening 61, andassuming the parts to be in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, andassuming that the containers 17 and 18 hold articles to be delivered,the operator by rotating the handle 39 will cause the check 40 to'b eadvanced to the position shown in Figure 4, and at the same time the cam33 will be rotated to retract the ejector 22 from the position shown inFigure 1, so as to permit one of the articles to be delivered to thesupport 23 through the frame like portion 25 of the ejector. At the timethatthe ejector is being retracted the gate or member 20 will be swungabout its pivot from the full line position to the dotted line position.to prevent articles in the container 17 from being delivered therefrom.As soon as the ejector 22 is retracted from the position shownin Figure1, one of the articles will fall; upon the portion 53 of the member 52toswingthe member 49 about its Inn ' ment with the element 42 of the checkconpermit of the operation of the ejector.

'the same time the check will fall from the trolled mechanism. When thecheck carrier 37 is reversed in its direction of movement one of thewalls of the seat 38 will force the check between the support 41 and theelement 42 to release the ratchet disc 46 and thereby i t support 42through a suitable opening 65 (see Figure 1) into a check receivingreceptacle 66, which latter is removably secured in any suitable mannerwithin the case 15. During this movement the article will be ejectedfrom the support 23 by the forward movement of the ejector 22 or by itsmovement into the position shown in Figure 1.

- In the event that there is no article in either of the containers 17and 18, the finger 55 will not be retracted but will assume the positionshown in Figure 4' and'will prevent the check from being delivered fromthe check carrier 37.

l/Vh'en it is desired to dispense articles which are very thin' andflat, there is provided a suitable member 67 which is secured beneaththe support 23 adjacent the delivery end of the latter. The ends of thismember 67 are shaped to extend around the lateral edges of the support23 and above the support. The ends 68 of the members 67 are deflecteddownwardly towards the'support 23 and terminate short thereof to form aspace 69 and which space is of a size only slightly greater than thethickness of the article 70 to be dispensed. These extremities 68 arepreferably located in close proximity to the lateral edges of thesupport 23 and at points where they will engagethe extremities of thearticles 7 0 being vended. If desired suitablefiller members 71 (seeFigures 8 and 10) maybe provided between the lower face of the support23 and the member 67 so as to permit of an 7 adjustment of the portions68 to move the extremities farther away from or closer to the face ofthe support 23 to vary the size of the spaces therebetween and therebycompensate the varying thicknesses ofarticles to be vended.

In this form ofthe invention and as shown in Figures 8, 9, and 10, theejector 72 is actuated in the same manner as in the form of theinvention heretofore described and through the medium of the oscillationof the pivotally mounted member 29. The ejector, howeven preferablyconsists of a substantially thin plate which is of a thickness slightlyless than the space 69 between the ends 68 of the member 67 and the faceof the support 23 so that when the ejector 72 is projected, as shownmore clearly in Figure 9, it will en.- gage the edge of the article toeject the latter.

As a means for guiding the ejector and for holding the parts in theproper position there may be provided anotherfiller member 73,

which may be secured to any fixed portion of the mechanism. The end 74of the member in the container 75,. a suitable weight 76 may beprovided. This weight is provided with a suitable opening 77 therein toreceive the end or portion 53' of the member 52 and thereby prevent theretraction of the finger or projection 55 on the member 49 by the weight76 when there are no articles in the container 7 5. The operation ofthis form of the invention is the same as that'described in connectionwith the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2.

As a means for preventing the operation of the mechanism by theinsertion of two checks which are not in themselves of the required sizeor denomination and which when placed side by side would produce aformation of the required width and possibly of the required weight of aproper check suitable provision is made for displacing one of thesechecks with respect to the other so that they will fall into themachinewhen inserted and the mechanism will not be actuated thereby. Tothat end reference being had more particularly to 1* igures 4 and 11)the face of the support 41 {upon which the check is received from theohec-k seat 38, is reduced or cut away as at 78 leaving a very narrowsurface 79 to be engaged by the edge of the check. The adjacent face ofthe element 42 of the check controlled mechanism is also provided with acut away or recessed portion 80 and is shaped to form a check engagingsurface 81. In the event that a check of the proper Width ordenomination is inserted and is-delivered from the check seat 38 uponthe surface 79 of the support 41, it will be manifest that the checkwill be properly supported and will be prevented from entering thereduced portion 78 and at the same time the check will span the opening80 in the check controlled element 42 and the mechanism will be operatedbut, as,

shown in Figure 11, when two thin checks are simultaneously inserted anddelivered from the check seat a portion of one of the thin checks 82will enter the cut away or reduced portion 78 of the support 41 and aportion of the other check 82 will enter the cut away or recessedportion 80 of the element 42 and it will be manifest that they will dropthrough ure 1, willprevent the articles or packages 17 from becomingwedged and will assist in supporting them; a

Furthermore" as the member 20 is moved from the position shown in dottedlines in Figure 1, to the full line position, the extension or portion20* will engage and assist in ejecting the article 18 from the. rear tothe. front compartment or container. This action is rendered possiblebecause the member 20 will be positively moved about its pivot throughthe medium of the arm 28 being en'- gaged by the lug 27.

While the preferred forms of the invention have been herein shown anddescribed it is to be understood that various changes may be made in thedetails of construction and in the combination and arrangement of theseveral parts, within the scope of the claims, without departing fromthe spirit of this invention.

lVhat is claimed as new is 1. A vending machine including a containerfor the articles to be vended, an ejector for the articles, checkcontrolled means for actuating the ejector, and means controlled by thearticles in the said container for rendering the ejector inoperative bythe check controlled means, the second recited means embodying anelement adapted to be positioned in the path of movement of the checkfrom the check seat in the check carrier for maintaining the checkagainst delivery from the check carmen 2. A vending machine including acontainer for the articles to be vended, an ejector for the articles,check controlled mechanism for actuating the ejector, said mechanismincluding a forwardly and backwardly movable check carrier and withrespect to which carrier the check is shiftable to actuate the ejector,and means directly controlled by the articles to be vended for renderingthe ejector inoperative with respect to the actuating mechanismtherefor, the last recited means in-- eluding mechanism for restrainingthe check against shifting movement with respect to the said checkcarrier.

3. A vending machine including a container for the articles to bevended, an ejector for the articles, check controlled mechanism for.actuating the ejector, saidmechanism including a forwardly andbackwardly movable check carrier and with respect to which carrier thecheck is shiftable to actuate the ejector, and means directly controlledby the articles to be vended for rendering the ejector inoperative withrespect to the actuating mechanism therefor, the last recited meansincluding an element operable to engage and-hold the check upon its seatupon thecheck carrier and in a position that the ejector actuatingmechanism will remain inactive.

4. A vending machine including a container for the articles to bevended, an ejector for ejecting them, actuating mechanismv for theejector, a forwardly and backwardly movable check carrier having a checkseat, said checlr being delivered from the said seat at a predeterminedpoint in the operation of the check carrier,.the said mechanismincluding means operable by the check when delivered from said seat torender the said mechanism active, and means controlled by the articlesin the container for maintaining the check upon its seat in the carrierto render the said actuating mechanism inactive.

5. A vending machine including a container for the articles to bevended, an ejector for ejecting them, actuating mechanism for theejector, a forwardly and backwardly movable check carrier having 'acheck seat, said check being delivered from the said seat at apredetermined point in the operation of the check carrier, the saidmechanism including means operable by the check when delivered from saidseat to renderthe said mechanism active, and a finger controlled by thearticles in the container for engaging the periphery of the check toretain the check upon its seat in the said carrier.

6. A vending machine including a'container for the articles to bevended, ejecting means for the articles, a forwardly and backwardlymovable check carrier having a check seat, said check being deliveredfrom the said seat at a predetermined point in the operation of thecheck carrier, said ejecting means ineluding mechanism for rendering thesame active when the check is unseated, and means controlled by thearticles to be vended for retaining the check upon its seat.

7. A vending machine including a container for the articles to bevended, ejecting means for the articles, a forwardly and back- Wardlymovable check carrier having a check 'seat, said check being deliveredfrom the said tending normally to render the said element active, andmeans whereby the said element will be rendered inactive to permit thecheck to be unseated Whenthesaid container contains one of the articlesto be vended.

8. A vending machine including a container for articles to be vended, anejector for the articles, check controlled mechanism including a checkcarrier having an open check seat therein, means for actuating thecarrier to invert the said seat to deliver the check therefrom, meansfor actuating the the check is delivered from the ejector when and meansadapted to engage check carrier,

the edge of the check in the seat for holding the check against deliveryfrom the seat under predetermined conditions.

9. Check controlled mechanism including a open seat therein,

conditions, and means for varying the stress.

of the last recited means.

10. A vending machine including a container for articles to be vended,means for releasing the articles, check controlled mechanism including acheck carrier having an means for actuating the carrier to invert theseat to deliver the check therefrom, means for actuating the saidreleasing means When the check is delivered from the check carrier, anelement movable a position adjacent the path of movement of the check toretain the latter in thesaid seat under predetermined conditions, andmeans operatively connected with the said element and positioned to beengaged by the articles'in the container whereby the said element Willbe rendered inactive to permit the check to be delivered from the checkseat.

11. A vendin machine including a container for articis to be 'vended,means for releasing the articles, check controlled mechanism including acheck carrier having'an open seat therein, means for actuating thecarrier to invert the seat to deliver the check therefrom, means foractuating the said releasing means when the check is delivered the checkcarrier, an element movable a position adjacent the path of movement thecheck the carrier to engage the edge of the check to retain the latterin the said see; under? predetermined conditions,- and embodying afinger adapted to lee-pm sitioned by the articles in the container toen- 40 gage the edge of the check for holding the check in the said seatto prevent its delivery from the seat when the latter is inverted.

12.-A vending machine including a container for the articles to bevended, means 4 check seat, means for actuating the carrier to dischargethe check from said seat, and. means controlled by the articles in thecontainer for renderin the article delivery means inactive, the lastrecited means emin the container to a position to form an obstruction toprevent discharge of the check from said seat.

13. A vending machine including a conbodying an element movable by thearticles tainer for the articles to be vended, means for delivering thearticles from the container. check controlled means for controlling thefirst said means and embodying a check carrier having an open seat forthe check, means for actuating the check carrier whereby the check willbe delivered therefrom, and means controlled by the articles in thecontainer for rendering the article deliver means inactive, the lastrecited means embodying an ele ure for the check seat to maintain thecheck against delivery from the check carrier.

In testimony whereof We have signed our names to this specification, onthis 20th day of June, A. D. 1924.

MYRON. H. RICHARDSON. ALFRED n. ANTOINE.

ment adapted to be positioned to form a clos-

